Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre

Latest Episodes:

Don't Worry About the Brooklyn Nets Big 3 & New Zealand Breakers owner Matt Walsh Jan 21, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by sharing his thoughts on the debut of the Brooklyn Nets Big 3 of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. The Nets defense was mostly atrocious in their double-overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but we did get a glimpse of the offensive juggernaut the trio could be become as Durant and Kyrie combined for 75 points and Harden had another triple-double. And, you know another Big 3 who had a bit of clunker in their debut? The 2010 Miami Heat with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Yeah, those guys turned out pretty good. Later, Producer Rob joins the show to help Jason make sense of the unbelievable start by Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic, the general malaise of Philadelphia 76ers all-star Ben Simmons and the injury status of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Finally, New Zealand Breakers owner and former college basketball star Matt Walsh swings by to discuss how life was able to get back to normal so quickly in New Zealand even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, how an American from Philadelphia came to be the owner of a professional basketball team in a different country, why he views his team as the 31st NBA franchise, how his own personal experiences playing basketball overseas helped him on the ownership side, what it was like playing on the star-studded Florida Gators team featuring guys like Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and David Lee, how he was able to get highly-touted high school prospect RJ Hampton to bypass college and play a year with the Breakers, why he's still planning on having his club play preseason games with NBA teams moving forward, and much more!

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Does Kyrie Irving Really Love Basketball? & Super Bowl champion Brady Poppinga Jan 20, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on Kyrie Irving's peculiar press conference in which he attributed his 2-week hiatus from the team to 'just needing a pause'. Interesting. That's not to say Kyrie didn't have legitimate personal issues that kept him away ,but by not revealing an exact reason he definitely leaves things open to interpretation. In fact, one could argue that Kyrie's disappearing act in the middle of the season, coupled with a quick glance at his social media history, that maybe he just doesn't love basketball that much. Unlike the rest of the top stars in the NBA, he doesn't have a single basketball-related image on Instagram page. Again, interesting. This is something to keep an eye on as the Brooklyn Nets navigate the rest of their season. Later, Super Bowl champion Brady Poppinga swings by to discuss what it was like playing alongside Aaron Rodgers during his first Super Bowl run, why it wasn't surprised to see Rodgers perform so well after the Green Bay Packers drafted Jordan Love in the first round, why he believes New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill is the most over-criticized player in the NFL, why he sees flashes of Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes in BYU quarterback Zach Wilson and why believes Wilson is definitely the 2nd best quarterback prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft, how Mahomes concussion could play a big role in the AFC Championship game - even if he does get cleared to play, and much more!

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Concussion Protocol Could Doom the Chiefs, Defense Doesn't Win Championships in the NFL & Is Ben Simmons on the Move? Jan 19, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick thought on the health of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. His status for the AFC Championship game is unclear at the moment, but based on what Andy Reid is saying (or not saying), it sure feels like they're willing to do anything to get him on the field. On the NBA front, James Harden is flourishing with the Brooklyn Nets, but the bigger story may be what's going on with the team he didn't get traded to: The Philadelphia 76ers. According to reports, the Sixers thought they had a Ben Simmons-for-Harden deal in place until Houston pulled out. That may have been the final straw for Simmons. He seems to be lacking confidence and his overall demeanor just feels off even when the team is winning. They couldn't get the Harden deal done but don't be surprised if Philadelphia decides to deal Simmons by the deadline. Back to the NFL, Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith could really learn a lot from Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and the way he navigated his way around Green Bay. The situations are similar in a few ways, and if Smith is willing to put in the work, he could have some success. Finally, Jason drops a couple of advanced stats that don't bode well for the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Chargers. According to Football Outsiders' DVOA, four of the top 5 offenses in the NFL are still in the playoffs. By contrast, only two of the top 15 defenses are left. This isn't your Dad's NFL; Defense doesn't win championships these days, offense does. So if you're a fan of the Jets or the Chargers, you may want to pump the breaks on all that excitement.

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Drew Brees Goes Out with a Whimper, Rough Night for the Ravens & More NFL Divisional Round Reaction Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason brings you wall-to-wall commentary on all the NFL Divisional Playoff round action. First, let's pour one out for Drew Brees who delivered what may have been his worst performance of the decade in what was likely the final of his career on Sunday night against Tampa Bay. Brees had 3 costly turnovers that ultimately sealed the Saints' fate, and Tom Brady and the Buccaneers were happy to capitalize. Speaking of Brady, he wasn't great, but he made the plays when his team needed them the most and walked away with the victory (as he usually does). All of that set the stage for the NFC Championship Game matchup that we've all been hoping more: Tom Brady vs Aaron Rodgers. Get your popcorn ready! In the early game, the Kansas City Chiefs found a way to get the win over the Cleveland Browns but the big story is the health of Patrick Mahomes. The reigning Super Bowl MVP left the game early with a concussion and now his availability for the AFC Championship Game is up in the air. Until we know if Mahomes is going to play or not, you should avoid betting on that game. Moving over to Saturday's action, the big story has to be the Ravens' coughing up the game to the Buffalo Bills. Justin Tucker never misses field goals in the playoffs... and yet he missed 2 on Saturday; Lamar Jackson never throws red zone interceptions... and yet he threw one that essentially ended the game. The Bills beat the Ravens fair and square, but given the way the game played out, Jason would bet on Baltimore again if they had a rematch. Finally, Jason closes the show with some thoughts on the latest head coaching hires around the NFL. The Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers both made their choices official, but there's only one that fans should feel good about. Take a listen to find out which.

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01/16/2021 – The Jason McIntyre Show – NFL Divisional Round Preview, Deshaun Watson Wants Out, PLUS Brian Costello, Brian T. Smith and sports betting guru T.A! Jan 16, 2021

Show notes

Jason McIntyre is back in action and dives deep into the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Jason weighs in on another tumultuous week for Houston sports as reports allege that Deshaun Watson wants out of the Texans organization and the Rockets trade James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. Plus, he says the Jets and Jaguars made slam dunk hires in Robert Saleh and Urban Meyer!

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Jags Can Win With Urban Meyer, Jets Put Robert Saleh in a Tough Spot & The Athletic's Mike Sando Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by sharing his thoughts on the two big head coaching hires in the NFL: Robert Saleh to the New York Jets and Urban Meyer to the Jacksonville Jaguars. On one hand, it's hard not to be excited that one of the great defensive coordinators in the NFL has chosen to come to New York and bring some much-needed stability to the franchise. On the other, the fact that Saleh has a defensive background could come back to bite him in the long run. If his new offensive coordinator is a success then chances are that guy will get a head coaching gig of his own and Saleh will be stuck with a revolving door of OC's; if the new coordinator is a failure then it's likely the team will struggle and Saleh himself might get fired. The path to success for Meyer in Jacksonville is much more straight-forward. The AFC South is a wide open division and the Jags - with Trevor Lawrence at quarterback - could find themselves in the playoff hunt inside of two years. In fact, Jason argues that if Meyer succeeds the way many expect he will then we could see him being mentioned as one of the greatest coaches in football history - college or pro. Later, The Athletic senior writer and podcast host Mike Sando swings by to discuss his how his famed QB Tiers came to be and why he never includes rookies on the list, how the presumed Urban Meyer-Trevor Lawrence pairing could work with the Jacksonville Jaguars, what's gone wrong with Sam Darnold as the quarterback for the New York Jets, why the biggest difference between Aaron Rodgers last year and this year has more to do with his teammates cleaning up their mistakes around of him than any massive jump in his own play (he's always been great), why history says it's so hard to bet against Andy Reid coming out of a bye... but this COVID year makes things unbelievably tricky as they head into this weekend's matchup with the Cleveland Browns, what we can expect in the trilogy match between Drew Brees' Saints and Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which NFL head coach could be the weakest link moving forward in these playoffs given how stacked the field is, if the Baltimore Ravens defense can contain the unbelievably hot Buffalo Bills offense, why he expects Josh Allen to start next season as a Tier 2 QB even after the impressive year he's had thus far, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special NFL Divisional Playoff round edition of the Best Bet.

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James Harden is Headed to Brooklyn & #NBATwitter pioneer Cuffs The Legend Jan 14, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason shares his thoughts on the blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. The Houston Rockets made the puzzling decision to bypass a trade for Ben Simmons in favor of a bunch of draft picks and the expiring contract of Victor Oladipo. It felt more like a cost-cutting move for Houston than anything. As it relates to the Nets, Jason argues that the addition of Harden doesn't actually make Brooklyn demonstrably better. The on-court fit between Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving is clunky at best, and you could say the addition of Harden feels more like insurance against another Kyrie sabbatical. Even with that trio, Jasons says the Nets are probably the 3rd best team in the Eastern Conference. Later, #NBATwitter pioneer Cuffs The Legend swings by to discuss how a lack of maturity of focus derailed his chances at playing professional basketball, why he's not surprised to see the young Atlanta Hawks roster going through a rough patch right now, why some NBA players had an issue with Steph Curry's meteoric rise to superstardom, why he's genuinely concerned about the mental well-being of Kyrie Irving and why he's been so confused by the decisions Kyrie has made since he won an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, how he and LeBron James were able to develop a solid relationship away from basketball, why he agrees with Draymond Green that there are some folks in the sports media who don't really understand the game of basketball, why he really wants to see Bradley Beal traded to a legitimate team like the Los Angeles Lakers, why he never thought anybody could even come close to Michael Jordan... until he saw LeBron James, and much more!

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'Kanye' Irving Strikes Again & Pro Poker Player and Sports Gambler David Baker Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick recap of Tuesday's NBA action, and then does a deep dive into the latest drama surrounding Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving. After deciding last week that he needed time away from the team for 'personal reasons', Kyrie was spotted partying at a nightclub with sister. He then doubled-down on the shenanigans by appearing on a Zoom for a local politician at the exact time his Nets teammates were playing a game. Kyrie clearly doesn't think the rules apply to him. In fact, Jason argues, the reason why guys like Kyrie and James Harden feel entitled to do whatever they want is because Kawhi Leonard set the precedent two years ago. Kawhi decided he didn't want to play back-to-backs and the Toronto Raptors had no choice but to allow it. Likewise, Kyrie has decided he can take weeks off during the regular season and the Nets can't do anything to stop him. Later, professional poker player and sports gambler David Baker swings by to discuss how his life has changed after he won the famed Westgate SuperContest this year, how he caught the gambling bug at an early age and eventually became a professional poker player, why he believes almost anyone could become at least a good poker player, how the 'back room' poker games differ from the casino games he normally plays, how he and his partner were able to navigate the NFL gambling lines on their way to a first place finish in the SuperContest and a second place finish in the Circa Contest, how the difficulties brought forth as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic actually helped him at the betting window, why he found it beneficial not to talk much about the NFL gambling lines early in the week, how being early on teams like the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts helped him win at the betting window throughout the season, why it's so important to be fluid in your opinions when betting on NFL games throughout the season, why he has some early NFL Divisional round betting leans but he's not quite ready to make the bets just yet, why home field advantage matters a whole lot more in the postseason than it did in the regular season, and much more!

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Alabama Wins Again, the Truth on Devonta Smith and Justin Fields as NFL Prospects & What Went Wrong for Doug Pederson Jan 12, 2021

Show notes

On today's show, Jason brings you a full recap of Alabama's blowout win over Ohio State in the College Football Playoff championship game. The Crimson Tide won by 28 points – and it really wasn’t even that close as they dominated in all facets of the game. In fact, Jason argues that games like prove that we’d all be better off with an expanded College Football Playoff format. Jason also discusses whether or not this Alabama squad is really the greatest team in college football history, and if Nick Saban can rehabilitate yet another down-on-his-luck coaching candidate now that former Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien appears set to take over as offensive coordinator next season. Later, Jason does a deep dive on the game’s biggest stars – Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith and Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields – and tells us what we should expect from them at the next level. Both players are destined to go in the top 10, but are we sure that both are destined to become NFL stars? The answer may surprise you. Finally, Jason closes the show by sharing his thoughts on the Philadelphia Eagles’ peculiar decision to fire head coach Doug Pederson on Monday. Did they forget that he won them a Super Bowl just 3 years ago? Something doesn’t smell right; You don’t get rid of a Super Bowl coach that quickly unless there’s more going on behind the scenes. All signs point to Pederson becoming the ‘fall guy’ for someone in the front office.

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Browns Shock the World, Big Ben is Washed, Brady vs. Brees III & Alabama-Ohio State Preview Jan 11, 2021

Show notes

On today's episode, Jason brings you a full recap of the NFL's Super Wild Card Weekend action. First, how about those Cleveland Browns?!? Baker Mayfield and the boys steamrolled the Pittsburgh Steelers in what was easily the biggest upset of the weekend. Ben Roethlisberger looked washed and Mike Tomlin was completely out-coached by an interim guy on the opposite sideline. Sticking in the AFC, let's raise a glass for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for earning the first playoff victory of his young career against the Tennessee Titans. What's more, Jackson was able to secure his first double-digit come-from-behind win on his career as well. It was a big day overall for the reigning MVP. In the NFC, after both the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secured fairly easy wins in their Wild Card matchup, the stage is now set for Tom Brady vs. Drew Brees 3 in what should definitely be the marquee game of the Divisional round. Brady seems to be peaking at the right time and the Saints defense is still as nasty as ever so this one could be a classic. Later, Producer Rob joins the show to discuss what was easily the biggest story to take place off the field: Deshaun Watson's growing frustration with the Houston Texans. According to several insiders, not only does Watson want out, he's already got a new AFC landing spot in mind. Don't look now but the NBA's Player Empowerment Era may have infiltrated the NFL. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special College Football Playoff Championship Game edition of the Best Bet. Joe Public is all over Ohio State in this one, so Jason would have to be crazy to take Alabama here, right? Take a listen to find out!

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